Lewis was unsuccessful with his appeals until his case was taken up by Brett Dignam, then a professor at Yale Law School. In December 2013, Lewis’ team won a ruling by U.S. District Judge Charles Haight Jr. that, during his trial, state prosecutors had failed to tell the defense that the state’s key witness, Ovil Ruiz, had repeatedly denied having any knowledge of the murders.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently upheld that decision. The judges noted that Ruiz “only implicated Lewis after a police detective (Vincent Raucci) promised to let Ruiz go if he gave a statement in which he admitted to being the getaway driver and incriminated Lewis and Morant.”

On Feb. 27, 2014, Lewis was ordered freed from prison, although ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. But he still had to await the state’s appeal of the federal approval of Lewis’ habeas corpus petition.

On May 14 he won another victory when the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Haight’s ruling. Two weeks later, Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Proto announced the state would not pursue the case any longer. And this week, Lewis walked into Superior Court in New Haven to hear Assistant State’s Attorney Karen Roberg nolle the charges. Lewis’ attorney, Richard Emanuel, immediately asked Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford to dismiss those charges and Clifford did so.

About how he had felt as he left the courtroom, Lewis said, “I pretty much expected it. I always knew that eventually my case would be dismissed. I knew the truth would prevail.”

Lewis said he had maintained that optimism even during those many years spent acting as his own attorney and having his motions denied in court.

“I believed in the criminal justice system. I knew that if I stayed persistent and believed in the system, eventually it would work,” he said. “I knew it was a process. It had peaks and valleys.”

But he admitted “it was tough,” and the rulings against him were disappointing. “I understood that representing myself for many years would probably work against me.”

Lewis said he had been much more emotional on Feb. 27, 2014, when he was first released. He recalled the day was “freezing cold” but he received a warm embrace from his sister, Marlo Lewis, who picked him up to bring him home.

Asked how he began to readjust to civilian life, he said he told himself: “I’ve got to get in the mind-set to move forward with my life and put those other things behind me.”

He said the prison experience “made me stronger. I came out a better person than when I went in.”

In July of last year he married Rachel Bidon. They are sharing seven adult offspring from their previous marriages. Lewis noted, “Trying to reconnect is not easy.”

Lewis is living in Hamden and is a licensed real estate agent. He proudly displayed photos of two houses he has sold.

Asked if he is angry at anybody for what happened over the past three decades, Lewis said, “I’m angry more at the process of the system that I had to go through. But I’m not mad at anyone personally.”

When asked about those two murders, Lewis said, “I think the prosecutor should reopen the case. If I had the power to reopen it, I would definitely have it done.”

State’s Attorney Michael Dearington said Friday, “Unless some new evidence is uncovered, which is highly unlikely, we do not have the ability to reopen the case.”

Emanuel, who filed the motion to dismiss the charges that was granted by Clifford, said afterward, “Brett (Dignam) and I are extremely pleased for Scott and his wife and family that this nightmare which started in 1991 is finally over.”

When Lewis was asked what lessons he learned from his long and trying experience, he replied, “Just understand that no matter what you may face in life, the truth will hold you and sustain you. Eventually the truth will set you free.”

Meanwhile, Morant, who has enjoyed several months of freedom, said he continues to look for work and enjoy time with his family, notably his seven now-grown offspring. Morant is seeking a pardon from the state.